Health officials in Samut Sakhon province will step up pro-active COVID-19 screening next week, with a target of 10,000 people a day for five days, during which 2,000-3,000 new infections are expected to be found, said CCSA deputy spokesperson Dr. Apisamai Srirangsun on Sunday.
She said that the screenings will target factory workers, communities and dormitories, in an effort to change Krathum Ban and Muang districts from Red to Yellow and then green zones.
Dr. Apisamai said health officials are trying to free Samut Sakhon of new infections, adding that officials are optimistic that that the pandemic will ease during the second week of February, after which authorities may consider relaxing restrictions.
She also hinted that educational institutes, in some areas of Samut Sakhon, may reopen in February, if the COVID-19 situation there has improved satisfactorily, while businesses may have to wait.
So far, 70,000 people in the province have been tested for COVID-19 and 5,332 of them, mostly migrant workers from Myanmar, have been found to be infected. The infection rate is roughly 7%.
According to the CCSA, 198 new COVID-19 cases were recorded today, including 191 locally-acquired infections and seven imported. One more fatality was reported, bringing the national total death toll to 73.
The latest victim was a 73-year old woman, living in Samut Sakhon, who suffered from dementia, high blood pressure and epilepsy. She was found to have been infected by family members on January 9th and admitted to hospital suffering from fatigue and a severe lung inflammation.
She was placed on a respirator and then transferred to Taksin Hospital, but her condition worsened until she passed away on Saturday.
